The NYT Connections: Sports Edition puzzle for September 15, 2026, is number 722. This edition requires players to navigate through various sports rituals and historical names, with a particularly tricky overlap between baseball legends and boxing terminology.
Hints for Today’s Connections
If you are looking to narrow down the categories without seeing the full solutions yet, these progressive hints can help guide your grouping:
- Yellow Category: Focuses on the sequence of events that happen immediately after a batter hits a ball over the fence.
- Green Category: These are the standard proceedings and rituals that take place before two fighters step into the ring.
- Blue Category: This group features some of the most iconic nicknames in the history of the Baseball Hall of Fame.
- Purple Category: Look for multi-word names that represent professional soccer teams in England.
A notable challenge in today’s grid is the word “Bell.” It appears in both the boxing category as “Opening Bell” and as part of the legendary outfielder “Cool Papa Bell” in the baseball group. Separating these two is key to solving the Blue and Green categories.
Warning: The full answers and category groups for puzzle #722 follow below.
Connections: Sports Edition Answers for September 15
Yellow: Events after a home run
BAT FLIP, CURTAIN CALL, DUGOUT CELEBRATION, HOME RUN TROT
These terms describe the various ways players and fans celebrate a home run, from the initial toss of the bat to the final acknowledgment of the crowd.
Green: Part of the run-up to a boxing match
OPENING BELL, PRESS CONFERENCE, RING WALK, WEIGH-IN
This category covers the traditional timeline of a fight night, starting with the media build-up and ending with the sound that starts the first round.
Blue: Baseball Hall of Famers
COOL PAPA BELL, DIZZY DEAN, HOME RUN BAKER, PIE TRAYNOR
This group highlights legendary players enshrined in Cooperstown. The group includes Negro Leagues speedster Cool Papa Bell, Cardinals ace Dizzy Dean, Athletics and Yankees third baseman Home Run Baker, and Pirates legend Pie Traynor.
Purple: English soccer clubs
CRYSTAL PALACE, NOTTINGHAM FOREST, QUEENS PARK RANGERS, SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY
The final category consists of historic English football clubs. These teams are often referred to by their full formal names: Crystal Palace FC, Nottingham Forest FC, Queens Park Rangers FC, and Sheffield Wednesday FC.
